Rules of Golf

There is much more to the game of golf than just the fascination of a new Olympic sport. It is a special culture that honors many rules, traditions and legends dating back to 1457, it is a philosophy, aesthetics and etiquette, a cult of honor for gentlemen and a true art for ladies.
Every game has rules, and golf is no exception. But what sets golf apart from other sports is the inviolability for centuries of three basic principles:

Play the ball the way it lays.
play the course the way it is.
if neither is possible, do it justice.

In connection with the popularization of golf, its transition to the official level and the need for mass competitions, these three rules were certainly not enough, so the various English clubs have added rules that vary from club to club. Nevertheless, only in 1754 the official rules of golf were recorded in the document “Articles and Laws of Golf” and at that time already consisted of thirteen items.
The international standard of golf rules is maintained by the organization in the old world – The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, which carried out this function since 1754. Only in 2004, the rights and responsibilities for the drafting and interpretation of golf rules, as well as interpretations and decisions on the rules of golf were transferred to a new organization called The R&A Rules Limited. And on the other hand, similar authority within the United States and Mexico is held by the USGA, formed in 1894 in the state of New Jersey.
It is generally accepted that a new edition of The Rules of Golf is published every four years and is the result of a long, painstaking process that takes into account the comments or recommendations of many golf organizations from around the world. The book includes three main sections:

course etiquette and rules of conduct.
terms and definitions.
Rules of the game (34 paragraphs).

These Rules of Golf are international and apply to any club in the world where golf is officially played; they may be amended only by an authorized body. Local rules are a separate term in golf; local rules are developed and approved by the administration and Council of a particular Club and take into account the specifics of the club, the condition of its courses, etc. As a rule, local rules are published on golf clubs’ scorecards or posted on stands.
In addition, there is a voluminous book called “Decisions,” which contains many comments, explanations, case studies, etc. in rather small print; remember also that there are competition regulations, rules governing amateur golfer status, etc., etc.
Understanding that the “Rules of Golf” itself is a very voluminous and complicated document, which will take a lot of time to read and understand, we will make a small selection and focus on the basic rules to make it easier for you to study them.

Before the start: (note: do not be late for the start area, to avoid penalties or disqualification)

Study the Local Rules carefully, which are published on the scorecard or on a separate info booth;
mark your ball (to avoid penalties and for quick identification of your ball during the game);
make sure that the number of clubs in the bag is no more than 14 and that they comply with the rules of golf.

During the round:

only your caddie or teammate can give advice; do not give advice to anyone other than your partner. But you can ask questions about the Rules, the distance and position of obstacles, the flag, etc. (you can go to the marshal of the field and invite the competition judge if you think that your ball is in an ambiguous situation – most importantly, remember that an unjustified delay of play can also add a penalty to you or the team).
Any practice shots during play on the hole are prohibited.

In the final round:

in match play, make sure the match score is recorded;
in stroke play – make sure your scores on the scorecard are correct, have your marker sign the card, sign it yourself as well and turn it in to the judging committee as soon as possible.